Genetic dissection of nutritional traits in chickpea

Two populations derived from ICC 8997 x FG212 and KPG59 x HK-94-134 were used for the identification of genomic regions associated with seed protein contents, seed Zn concentration, and seed Iron and beta-carotene concentration in chickpea respectively. The SNP-based high-resolution QTL mapping mapped five genomic regions harboring QTLs governing SPC (4) and Zn (1) concentrations (ICC 8997 x FG212 derived population and up to 24% PVE) on six chromosomes of an intra-specific high-density genetic linkage map (.53cM map-density) and six genomic regions harboring QTLs governing seed Iron (2) and beta-carotene (4), ( KPG59 x HK-94-134 derived population and up to 28% PVE) on six chromosomes of an intra-specific high-density genetic linkage map (. 46 cM map-density). These QTLs have the potential to be deployed in marker-assisted genetic enhancement for developing nutritionally-rich biofortified chickpea cultivars.